Mysticism, science and the Understanding of religious doctrines

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Abstract

It is recognised that religion plays an important role in individual and societal life. On
the one hand, the advent of science and rationalism heralded a sustained critique on the
basis on which religious beliefs are ordinarily held. On the other, and as a means of
countering this, attempts were made to seek a dialogue between religion and science.
This was done in the hope that it would give credence and objectivity to religious
doctrines. However, whilst religion and science can be related to one another as
complementary, though different forms of human discourse, any close and direct
association between them is misplaced and undesirable.
Consequently, religion, as far as it is valid, ought to be able to provide its own reasons
in support of this. However, in academic and intellectual circles, focus has been on the
traditionaI conceptions of r religion, mostly, whilst ignoring its mystical dimensions.
Consequently, this work has focused on mysticism, as an alternative conception to
religion as faith. It has been argued that mysticism offers convincing logical,
methodological, and experiential evidence to support its claims, particularly those that
pertain to the ultimate reality or God. The inference from mystical experience to such a
being rests on reasonable criteria, contrary to what has been argued about the usefulness
of such experiences.
The study notes that religious doctrines should not be exempt from validating criteria
lest their adoption be reduced to mere sentimentalism. Science has a role to play in this lest their adoption be reduced to mere sentimentalism. Science has a role to play in this
respect, but it should not illicitly be used as the criteria by which religion is to be
validated. Philosophy and rationalism also have a unique role to play in this. Any
genuine assertion, religious or otherwise, ought to be consistent with reason. Both
science and philosophy should act as checks and balances, as complementaries not the
bases upon which religious claims are to be solely grounded.